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Ball B, Sukumaran A, Pladwig S, Kazi S, Chan N, Honeywell E, Modrakova M, Geddes-McAlister J. Proteome signatures reveal homeostatic and adaptive oxidative responses by a putative co-chaperone, Wos2, to influence fungal virulence determinants in cryptococcosis. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0015224. [PMID: 38953322 PMCID: PMC11302251 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00152-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of invasive fungal pathogens is dramatically changing the clinical landscape of infectious diseases, posing an imminent threat to public health. Specifically, Cryptococcus neoformans, the human opportunistic pathogen, expresses elaborate virulence mechanisms and is equipped with sophisticated adaptation strategies to survive in harsh host environments. This study extensively characterizes Wos2, an Hsp90 co-chaperone homolog, featuring bilateral functioning for both cryptococcal adaptation and the resulting virulence response. In this study, we evaluated the proteome and secretome signatures associated with wos2 deletion in enriched and infection-mimicking conditions to reveal Wos2-dependent regulation of the oxidative stress response through global translational reprogramming. The wos2Δ strain demonstrates defective intracellular and extracellular antioxidant protection systems, measurable through a decreased abundance of critical antioxidant enzymes and reduced growth in the presence of peroxide stress. Additional Wos2-associated stress phenotypes were observed upon fungal challenge with heat shock, osmotic stress, and cell membrane stressors. We demonstrate the importance of Wos2 for intracellular lifestyle of C. neoformans during in vitro macrophage infection and provide evidence for reduced phagosomal replication levels associated with wos2Δ. Accordingly, wos2Δ featured significantly reduced virulence within impacting fungal burden in a murine model of cryptococcosis. Our study highlights a vulnerable point in the fungal chaperone network that offers a therapeutic opportunity to interfere with both fungal virulence and fitness.IMPORTANCEThe global impact of fungal pathogens, both emerging and emerged, is undeniable, and the alarming increase in antifungal resistance rates hampers our ability to protect the global population from deadly infections. For cryptococcal infections, a limited arsenal of antifungals and increasing rates of resistance demand alternative therapeutic strategies, including an anti-virulence approach, which disarms the pathogen of critical virulence factors, empowering the host to remove the pathogens and clear the infection. To this end, we apply state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based proteomics to evaluate the impact of a recently defined novel co-chaperone, Wos2, toward cryptococcal virulence using in vitro and in vivo models of infection. We explore global proteome and secretome remodeling driven by the protein and uncover the novel role in modulating the fungal oxidative stress response. Complementation of proteome findings with in vitro infectivity assays demonstrated the protective role of Wos2 within the macrophage phagosome, influencing fungal replication and survival. These results underscore differential cryptococcal survivability and weakened patterns of dissemination in the absence of wos2. Overall, our study establishes Wos2 as an important contributor to fungal pathogenesis and warrants further research into critical proteins within global stress response networks as potential druggable targets to reduce fungal virulence and clear infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Ball
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arjun Sukumaran
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samanta Pladwig
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samiha Kazi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Norris Chan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Effie Honeywell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manuela Modrakova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Newton HP, Higgins DP, Casteriano A, Wright BR, Krockenberger MB, Miranda LHM. The CARD9 Gene in Koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus): Does It Play a Role in the Cryptococcus-Koala Interaction? J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:409. [PMID: 38921395 PMCID: PMC11205041 DOI: 10.3390/jof10060409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus is a genus of fungal pathogens that can infect and cause disease in a range of host species and is particularly prominent in koalas (Phascolarctos cinerus). Like other host species, koalas display a range of outcomes upon exposure to environmental Cryptococcus, from external nasal colonization to asymptomatic invasive infection and, in rare cases, severe clinical disease resulting in death. Host factors contributing to these varied outcomes are poorly understood. Due to their close relationship with eucalypt trees (a key environmental niche for Cryptococcus gattii) and suspected continual exposure to the pathogen, koalas provide a unique opportunity to examine host susceptibility in natural infections. Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9) is a key intracellular signaling protein in the fungal innate immune response. Humans with mutations in CARD9 succumb to several different severe and chronic fungal infections. This study is the first to sequence and explore CARD9 variation in multiple koalas using Sanger sequencing. Four CARD9 exons were successfully sequenced in 22 koalas from a New South Wales, Australia population. We found minimal variation between koalas across all four exons, an observation that was also made when CARD9 sequences were compared between koalas and six other species, including humans and mice. Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified in this study and explored in the context of cryptococcal exposure outcomes. While we did not find any significant association with variation in cryptococcal outcomes, we found a high degree of conservation between species at several SNP loci that requires further investigation. The findings from this study lay the groundwork for further investigations of CARD9 and Cryptococcus both in koalas and other species, and highlight several considerations for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Luisa H. M. Miranda
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (H.P.N.); (D.P.H.); (A.C.); (B.R.W.); (M.B.K.)
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3
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LaRocque-de-Freitas IF, da Silva-Junior EB, Gemieski LP, da Silva Dias Lima B, Diniz-Lima I, de Carvalho Vivarini A, Lopes UG, Freire-de-Lima L, Morrot A, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L, Pinto-da-Silva LH, Freire-de-Lima CG, Decote-Ricardo D. Inhibition of Microbicidal Activity of Canine Macrophages DH82 Cell Line by Capsular Polysaccharides from Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:339. [PMID: 38786693 PMCID: PMC11122219 DOI: 10.3390/jof10050339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a lethal fungus that primarily affects the respiratory system and the central nervous system. One of the main virulence factors is the capsule, constituted by the polysaccharides glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and glucuronoxylomanogalactan (GXMGal). Polysaccharides are immunomodulators. One of the target cell populations for modulation are macrophages, which are part of the first line of defense and important for innate and adaptive immunity. It has been reported that macrophages can be modulated to act as a "Trojan horse," taking phagocytosed yeasts to strategic sites or having their machinery activation compromised. The scarcity of information on canine cryptococcosis led us to assess whether the purified capsular polysaccharides from C. neoformans would be able to modulate the microbicidal action of macrophages. In the present study, we observed that the capsular polysaccharides, GXM, GXMGal, or capsule total did not induce apoptosis in the DH82 macrophage cell line. However, it was possible to demonstrate that the phagocytic activity was decreased after treatment with polysaccharides. In addition, recovered yeasts from macrophages treated with polysaccharides after phagocytosis could be cultured, showing that their viability was not altered. The polysaccharides led to a reduction in ROS production and the mRNA expression of IL-12 and IL-6. We observed that GXMGal inhibits MHC class II expression and GXM reduces ERK phosphorylation. In contrast, GXMGal and GXM were able to increase the PPAR-γ expression. Furthermore, our data suggest that capsular polysaccharides can reduce the microbicidal activity of canine macrophages DH82.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel F. LaRocque-de-Freitas
- Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-900, Brazil; (I.F.L.-d.-F.); (L.P.G.); (B.d.S.D.L.); (L.H.P.-d.-S.)
| | - Elias Barbosa da Silva-Junior
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | - Leticia Paixão Gemieski
- Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-900, Brazil; (I.F.L.-d.-F.); (L.P.G.); (B.d.S.D.L.); (L.H.P.-d.-S.)
| | - Beatriz da Silva Dias Lima
- Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-900, Brazil; (I.F.L.-d.-F.); (L.P.G.); (B.d.S.D.L.); (L.H.P.-d.-S.)
| | - Israel Diniz-Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | | | - Ulisses G. Lopes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | - Alexandre Morrot
- Instituto Oswaldo, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil;
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-900, Brazil
| | - José Osvaldo Previato
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | - Lucia Helena Pinto-da-Silva
- Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-900, Brazil; (I.F.L.-d.-F.); (L.P.G.); (B.d.S.D.L.); (L.H.P.-d.-S.)
| | - Celio G. Freire-de-Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (E.B.d.S.-J.); (I.D.-L.); (U.G.L.); (L.F.-d.-L.); (J.O.P.); (L.M.-P.)
| | - Debora Decote-Ricardo
- Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-900, Brazil; (I.F.L.-d.-F.); (L.P.G.); (B.d.S.D.L.); (L.H.P.-d.-S.)
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4
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Mishra AK, Thakare RP, Santani BG, Yabaji SM, Dixit SK, Srivastava KK. Unlocking the enigma of phenotypic drug tolerance: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies. Biochimie 2024; 220:67-83. [PMID: 38168626 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance, phenotypic drug tolerance poses a formidable challenge. This adaptive ability of microorganisms to withstand drug pressure without genetic alterations further complicating global healthcare challenges. Microbial populations employ an array of persistence mechanisms, including dormancy, biofilm formation, adaptation to intracellular environments, and the adoption of L-forms, to develop drug tolerance. Moreover, molecular mechanisms like toxin-antitoxin modules, oxidative stress responses, energy metabolism, and (p)ppGpp signaling contribute to this phenomenon. Understanding these persistence mechanisms is crucial for predicting drug efficacy, developing strategies for chronic bacterial infections, and exploring innovative therapies for refractory infections. In this comprehensive review, we dissect the intricacies of drug tolerance and persister formation, explore their role in acquired drug resistance, and highlight emerging therapeutic approaches to combat phenotypic drug tolerance. Furthermore, we outline the future landscape of interventions for persistent bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok K Mishra
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India; Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Ritesh P Thakare
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India; Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Bela G Santani
- Department of Microbiology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University (SGBAU), Amravati, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shivraj M Yabaji
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shivendra K Dixit
- Division of Medicine ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India.
| | - Kishore K Srivastava
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India.
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5
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Liu R, Li X, Liu Y, Du L, Zhu Y, Wu L, Hu B. A high-speed microscopy system based on deep learning to detect yeast-like fungi cells in blood. Bioanalysis 2024; 16:289-303. [PMID: 38334080 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2023-0193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Blood-invasive fungal infections can cause the death of patients, while diagnosis of fungal infections is challenging. Methods: A high-speed microscopy detection system was constructed that included a microfluidic system, a microscope connected to a high-speed camera and a deep learning analysis section. Results: For training data, the sensitivity and specificity of the convolutional neural network model were 93.5% (92.7-94.2%) and 99.5% (99.1-99.5%), respectively. For validating data, the sensitivity and specificity were 81.3% (80.0-82.5%) and 99.4% (99.2-99.6%), respectively. Cryptococcal cells were found in 22.07% of blood samples. Conclusion: This high-speed microscopy system can analyze fungal pathogens in blood samples rapidly with high sensitivity and specificity and can help dramatically accelerate the diagnosis of fungal infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojie Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yingyi Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Lijun Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingzhu Zhu
- Guangzhou Waterrock Gene Technology, Guangdong, China
| | - Lichuan Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
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6
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Sonnberger J, Kasper L, Lange T, Brunke S, Hube B. "We've got to get out"-Strategies of human pathogenic fungi to escape from phagocytes. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:341-358. [PMID: 37800630 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Human fungal pathogens are a deadly and underappreciated risk to global health that most severely affect immunocompromised individuals. A virulence attribute shared by some of the most clinically relevant fungal species is their ability to survive inside macrophages and escape from these immune cells. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms behind intracellular survival and elaborate how escape is mediated by lytic and non-lytic pathways as well as strategies to induce programmed host cell death. We also discuss persistence as an alternative to rapid host cell exit. In the end, we address the consequences of fungal escape for the host immune response and provide future perspectives for research and development of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Sonnberger
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Theresa Lange
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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7
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Smith-Peavler E, Sircy LM, Nelson DE, McClelland EE. Two Methods of Measuring Cryptococcus neoformans Fungal Burden in Macrophages. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2775:211-221. [PMID: 38758320 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3722-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The ability of C. neoformans to survive and replicate within host phagocytes enables it to evade the immune system and allows for persistence of the infection. As such, measuring fungal burden of C. neoformans strains-and indeed how drug treatments can influence fungal burden-provides important information about C. neoformans pathogenesis. In this chapter, we describe two methods that may be used to appraise fungal burden: a standard end-point colony-formation assay for calculating the average number of yeast per host cell and a fluorescence microscopy-based method that may be used to measure changes in fungal burden in individual living macrophages in real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Smith-Peavler
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
- KIPP Collegiate High School, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Linda M Sircy
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - David E Nelson
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
| | - Erin E McClelland
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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8
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de Castro RJA, Marina CL, Sturny-Leclère A, Hoffmann C, Bürgel PH, Wong SSW, Aimanianda V, Varet H, Agrawal R, Bocca AL, Alanio A. Kicking sleepers out of bed: Macrophages promote reactivation of dormant Cryptococcus neoformans by extracellular vesicle release and non-lytic exocytosis. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011841. [PMID: 38033163 PMCID: PMC10715671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages play a key role in disseminated cryptococcosis, a deadly fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. This opportunistic infection can arise following the reactivation of a poorly characterized latent infection attributed to dormant C. neoformans. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying reactivation of dormant C. neoformans using an in vitro co-culture model of viable but non-culturable (VBNC; equivalent of dormant) yeast cells with bone marrow-derived murine macrophages (BMDMs). Comparative transcriptome analysis of BMDMs incubated with log, stationary phase or VBNC cells of C. neoformans showed that VBNC cells elicited a reduced transcriptional modification of the macrophage but retaining the ability to regulate genes important for immune response, such as NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes. We further confirmed the maintenance of the low immunostimulatory capacity of VBNC cells using multiplex cytokine profiling, and analysis of cell wall composition and dectin-1 ligands exposure. In addition, we evaluated the effects of classic (M1) or alternative (M2) macrophage polarization on VBNC cells. We observed that intracellular residence sustained dormancy, regardless of the polarization state of macrophages and despite indirect detection of pantothenic acid (or its derivatives), a known reactivator for VBNC cells, in the C. neoformans-containing phagolysosome. Notably, M0 and M2, but not M1 macrophages, induced extracellular reactivation of VBNC cells by the secretion of extracellular vesicles and non-lytic exocytosis. Our results indicate that VBNC cells retain the low immunostimulatory profile required for persistence of C. neoformans in the host. We also describe a pro-pathogen role of macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles in C. neoformans infection and reinforce the impact of non-lytic exocytosis and the macrophage profile on the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffael Júnio Araújo de Castro
- Translational Mycology Research Group, National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals, Mycology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Clara Luna Marina
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Aude Sturny-Leclère
- Translational Mycology Research Group, National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals, Mycology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- Food Research Center, Department of Food Sciences and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Bürgel
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Sarah Sze Wah Wong
- Immunobiology of Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Immunobiology of Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Hugo Varet
- Plate-forme Technologique Biomics, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Ruchi Agrawal
- Translational Mycology Research Group, National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals, Mycology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anamélia Lorenzetti Bocca
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Alanio
- Translational Mycology Research Group, National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals, Mycology Department, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de parasitologie-mycologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
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9
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Conn BN, Wozniak KL. Innate Pulmonary Phagocytes and Their Interactions with Pathogenic Cryptococcus Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:617. [PMID: 37367553 PMCID: PMC10299524 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes over 180,000 annual deaths in HIV/AIDS patients. Innate phagocytes in the lungs, such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, are the first cells to interact with the pathogen. Neutrophils, another innate phagocyte, are recruited to the lungs during cryptococcal infection. These innate cells are involved in early detection of C. neoformans, as well as the removal and clearance of cryptococcal infections. However, C. neoformans has developed ways to interfere with these processes, allowing for the evasion of the host's innate immune system. Additionally, the innate immune cells have the ability to aid in cryptococcal pathogenesis. This review discusses recent literature on the interactions of innate pulmonary phagocytes with C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen L. Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, 307 Life Science East, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
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Dyková I, Palíková M, Vetešník L. Intraerythrocytic Mycoplasma-like organism diagnosed ultrastructurally as an agent of anaemia in laboratory-reared cyprinid hybrids. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2022; 152:159-168. [PMID: 36546688 DOI: 10.3354/dao03714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A study targeting the etiology of severe anaemia that sporadically occurred in laboratory-bred cyprinid hybrids resulted in a diagnosis of a Mycoplasma-like organism selectively invading the cytoplasm of erythrocytes. Despite the fact that there was a concurrent yeast infection in moribund anaemic hybrids, the primary role in the development of anaemia was assigned to the Mycoplasma-like organism due to its regular occurrence in erythrocytes of both the moribund hybrids and hybrids that were free of yeast infection yet showed early to advanced symptoms of the disease. Novel data on the Mycoplasma-like organism's cytoskeleton were obtained from ultrathin sections of affected erythrocytes. An ultrastructural study of the concurrent yeast infection in moribund hybrids manifesting the most advanced anaemia revealed the presence of Titan cells in ascitic fluid. The original findings presented in this study underline the diagnostic relevance of transmission electron microscopy in the research of similar infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Dyková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic
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11
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Nelson BN, Daugherty CS, Sharp RR, Booth JL, Patel VI, Metcalf JP, Jones KL, Wozniak KL. Protective interaction of human phagocytic APC subsets with Cryptococcus neoformans induces genes associated with metabolism and antigen presentation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1054477. [PMID: 36466930 PMCID: PMC9709479 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1054477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common cause of meningitis among HIV/AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa, and worldwide causes over 223,000 cases leading to more than 181,000 annual deaths. Usually, the fungus gets inhaled into the lungs where the initial interactions occur with pulmonary phagocytes such as dendritic cells and macrophages. Following phagocytosis, the pathogen can be killed or can replicate intracellularly. Previous studies in mice showed that different subsets of these innate immune cells can either be antifungal or permissive for intracellular fungal growth. Our studies tested phagocytic antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets from the human lung against C. neoformans. Human bronchoalveolar lavage was processed for phagocytic APCs and incubated with C. neoformans for two hours to analyze the initial interactions and fate of the fungus, living or killed. Results showed all subsets (3 macrophage and 3 dendritic cell subsets) interacted with the fungus, and both living and killed morphologies were discernable within the subsets using imaging flow cytometry. Single cell RNA-seq identified several different clusters of cells which more closely related to interactions with C. neoformans and its protective capacity against the pathogen rather than discrete cellular subsets. Differential gene expression analyses identified several changes in the innate immune cell's transcriptome as it kills the fungus including increases of TNF-α (TNF) and the switch to using fatty acid metabolism by upregulation of the gene FABP4. Also, increases of TNF-α correlated to cryptococcal interactions and uptake. Together, these analyses implicated signaling networks that regulate expression of many different genes - both metabolic and immune - as certain clusters of cells mount a protective response and kill the pathogen. Future studies will examine these genes and networks to understand the exact mechanism(s) these phagocytic APC subsets use to kill C. neoformans in order to develop immunotherapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin N. Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Cheyenne S. Daugherty
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Rachel R. Sharp
- Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - J. Leland Booth
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Vineet I. Patel
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jordan P. Metcalf
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kenneth L. Jones
- Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Karen L. Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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12
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de Castro RJA, Rêgo MTAM, Brandão FS, Pérez ALA, De Marco JL, Poças-Fonseca MJ, Nichols C, Alspaugh JA, Felipe MSS, Alanio A, Bocca AL, Fernandes L. Engineered Fluorescent Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans: a Versatile Toolbox for Studies of Host-Pathogen Interactions and Fungal Biology, Including the Viable but Nonculturable State. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0150422. [PMID: 36005449 PMCID: PMC9603711 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01504-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen known for its remarkable ability to infect and subvert phagocytes. This ability provides survival and persistence within the host and relies on phenotypic plasticity. The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) phenotype was recently described in C. neoformans, whose study is promising in understanding the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis. The use of fluorescent strains is improving host interaction research, but it is still underexploited. Here, we fused histone H3 or the poly(A) binding protein (Pab) to enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or mCherry, obtaining a set of C. neoformans transformants with different colors, patterns of fluorescence, and selective markers (hygromycin B resistance [Hygr] or neomycin resistance [Neor]). We validated their similarity to the parental strain in the stress response, the expression of virulence-related phenotypes, mating, virulence in Galleria mellonella, and survival within murine macrophages. PAB-GFP, the brightest transformant, was successfully applied for the analysis of phagocytosis by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, we demonstrated that an engineered fluorescent strain of C. neoformans was able to generate VBNC cells. GFP-tagged Pab1, a key regulator of the stress response, evidenced nuclear retention of Pab1 and the assembly of cytoplasmic stress granules, unveiling posttranscriptional mechanisms associated with dormant C. neoformans cells. Our results support that the PAB-GFP strain is a useful tool for research on C. neoformans. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcus neoformans is a human-pathogenic yeast that can undergo a dormant state and is responsible for over 180,000 deaths annually worldwide. We engineered a set of fluorescent transformants to aid in research on C. neoformans. A mutant with GFP-tagged Pab1 improved fluorescence-based techniques used in host interaction studies. Moreover, this mutant induced a viable but nonculturable phenotype and uncovered posttranscriptional mechanisms associated with dormant C. neoformans. The experimental use of fluorescent mutants may shed light on C. neoformans-host interactions and fungal biology, including dormant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffael Júnio Araújo de Castro
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- CNRS, Unité de Mycologie Moléculaire, Centre National de Référence Mycoses et Antifongiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marco Túlio Aidar Mariano Rêgo
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Fabiana S. Brandão
- Faculty of Health Science, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Ana Laura Alfonso Pérez
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Janice Lisboa De Marco
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Marcio José Poças-Fonseca
- Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Connie Nichols
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - J. Andrew Alspaugh
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Maria Sueli S. Felipe
- Catholic University of Brasilia, Campus Asa Norte, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Alanio
- CNRS, Unité de Mycologie Moléculaire, Centre National de Référence Mycoses et Antifongiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anamélia Lorenzetti Bocca
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fernandes
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- Faculty of Ceilândia, Campus UnB Ceilândia, University of Brasília, Ceilândia Sul, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
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13
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Jung EH, Park YD, Dragotakes Q, Ramirez LS, Smith DQ, Reis FCG, Dziedzic A, Rodrigues ML, Baker RP, Williamson PR, Jedlicka A, Casadevall A, Coelho C. Cryptococcus neoformans releases proteins during intracellular residence that affect the outcome of the fungal-macrophage interaction. MICROLIFE 2022; 3:uqac015. [PMID: 36247839 PMCID: PMC9552768 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular pathogen that can replicate and disseminate in mammalian macrophages. In this study, we analyzed fungal proteins identified in murine macrophage-like cells after infection with C. neoformans. To accomplish this, we developed a protocol to identify proteins released from cryptococcal cells inside macrophage-like cells; we identified 127 proteins of fungal origin in infected macrophage-like cells. Among the proteins identified was urease, a known virulence factor, and others such as transaldolase and phospholipase D, which have catalytic activities that could contribute to virulence. This method provides a straightforward methodology to study host-pathogen interactions. We chose to study further Yeast Oligomycin Resistance (Yor1), a relatively uncharacterized protein belonging to the large family of ATP binding cassette transporter (ABC transporters). These transporters belong to a large and ancient protein family found in all extant phyla. While ABC transporters have an enormous diversity of functions across varied species, in pathogenic fungi they are better studied as drug efflux pumps. Analysis of C. neoformans yor1Δ strains revealed defects in nonlytic exocytosis, capsule size, and dimensions of extracellular vesicles, when compared to wild-type strains. We detected no difference in growth rates and cell body size. Our results indicate that C. neoformans releases a large suite of proteins during macrophage infection, some of which can modulate fungal virulence and are likely to affect the fungal-macrophage interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric H Jung
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Yoon-Dong Park
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Memorial Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Quigly Dragotakes
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Lia S Ramirez
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Daniel Q Smith
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Flavia C G Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775, Curitiba - PR, 81310-020, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Av. Brasil 4036. Room 814, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 21040-361, Brazil
| | - Amanda Dziedzic
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775, Curitiba - PR, 81310-020, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Rosanna P Baker
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Peter R Williamson
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Memorial Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Anne Jedlicka
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Corresponding author: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 N, Wolfe Street, Room E5132, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. E-mail:
| | - Carolina Coelho
- Corresponding author: Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, College of Health and Medicine, Geoffrey Pope Building, Room 325, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, Devon, United Kingdom. E-mail:
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14
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Tharappel AM, Li Z, Zhu YC, Wu X, Chaturvedi S, Zhang QY, Li H. Calcimycin Inhibits Cryptococcus neoformans In Vitro and In Vivo by Targeting the Prp8 Intein Splicing. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1851-1868. [PMID: 35948057 PMCID: PMC9464717 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Drug resistance is a significant concern in the treatment of diseases, including cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans (Cne) and Cryptococcus gattii (Cga). Alternative drug targets are necessary to overcome drug resistance before it attains a critical stage. Splicing of inteins from pro-protein precursors is crucial for activities of essential proteins hosting intein elements in many organisms, including human pathogens such as Cne and Cga. Through a high-throughput screening, we identified calcimycin (CMN) as a potent Prp8 intein splicing inhibitor with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.5 μg/mL against the wild-type Cne-H99 (Cne-WT or Cne). In contrast, CMN inhibited the intein-less mutant strain (Cne-Mut) with a 16-fold higher MIC. Interestingly, Aspergillus fumigatus and a few Candida species were resistant to CMN. Further studies indicated that CMN reduced virulence factors such as urease activity, melanin production, and biofilm formation in Cne. CMN also inhibited Cne intracellular infection in macrophages. In a target-specific split nanoluciferase assay, the IC50 of CMN was 4.6 μg/mL. Binding of CMN to recombinant Prp8 intein was demonstrated by thermal shift assay and microscale thermophoresis. Treating Cne cells with CMN reduced intein splicing. CMN was fungistatic and showed a synergistic effect with the known antifungal drug amphotericin B. Finally, CMN treatment at 20 mg/kg body weight led to 60% reduction in lung fungal load in a cryptococcal pulmonary infection mouse model. Overall, CMN represents a potent antifungal with a novel mechanism of action to treat Cne and possibly Cga infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Mathew Tharappel
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona 85721-0207, United States
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, United States
| | - Zhong Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona 85721-0207, United States
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, United States
| | - Yan Chun Zhu
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, United States
| | - Xiangmeng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona 85721-0207, United States
| | - Sudha Chaturvedi
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, United States
| | - Qing-Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona 85721-0207, United States
| | - Hongmin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson Arizona 85721-0207, United States
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, United States
- The BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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15
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Menezes-Silva L, Catarino JDS, de Faria LC, Pizzolante BC, Andrade-Silva LE, da Silva MV, Rodrigues V, Sales-Campos H, Oliveira CJF. Hemolymph of triatomines presents fungistatic activity against Cryptococcus neoformans and improves macrophage function through MCP-I/TNF-α increase. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2022; 28:e20210124. [PMID: 35910486 PMCID: PMC9302513 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
Triatomines are blood-feeding arthropods belonging to the subfamily Triatominae
(Hemiptera; Reduviidae), capable of producing immunomodulatory and water-soluble
molecules in their hemolymph, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In this
work, we evaluated the antifungal and immunomodulatory activity of the hemolymph
of Meccus pallidipennis (MPH) and Rhodnius
prolixus (RPH) against Cryptococcus neoformans.
Methods: We assessed the activity of the hemolymph of both
insects on fungal growth by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay.
Further, RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultivated with hemolymph and challenged
with C. neoformans. Then, their phagocytic and killing
activities were assessed. The cytokines MCP-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12, and
IL-6 were measured in culture supernatants 4- and 48-hours post-infection.
Results: Both hemolymph samples directly affected the growth
rate of the fungus in a dose-dependent manner. Either MPH or RPH was capable of
inhibiting fungal growth by at least 70%, using the lowest dilution (1:20).
Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with hemolymph of both insects was capable of
increasing the production of MCP-I and TNF-α. In addition, when these cells were
stimulated with hemolymph in the presence of C. neoformans, a
2- and a 4-fold increase in phagocytic rate was observed with MPH and RPH,
respectively, when compared to untreated cells. For the macrophage killing
activity, MPH decreased in approximately 30% the number of viable yeasts inside
the cells compared to untreated control; however, treatment with RPH could not
reduce the total number of viable yeasts. MPH was also capable of increasing
MHC-II expression on macrophages. Regarding the cytokine production, MCP-I and
TNF-α, were increased in the supernatant of macrophages treated with both
hemolymphs, 4 and 48 hours after stimulation. Conclusion: These
results suggested that hemolymph of triatomines may represent a source of
molecules capable of presenting antifungal and immunomodulatory activity in
macrophages during fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Menezes-Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jonatas da Silva Catarino
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.,Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Laura Caroline de Faria
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Cristina Pizzolante
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Eurípedes Andrade-Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinicius da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Virmondes Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Helioswilton Sales-Campos
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.,Department of Biosciences and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
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16
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Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, both environmental fungi that cause severe pneumonia and may even lead to cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Although C. neoformans affects more fragile individuals, such as immunocompromised hosts through opportunistic infections, C. gattii causes a serious indiscriminate primary infection in immunocompetent individuals. Typically seen in tropical and subtropical environments, C. gattii has increased its endemic area over recent years, largely due to climatic factors that favor contagion in warmer climates. It is important to point out that not only C. gattii, but the Cryptococcus species complex produces a polysaccharidic capsule with immunomodulatory properties, enabling the pathogenic species of Cryptococccus to subvert the host immune response during the establishment of cryptococcosis, facilitating its dissemination in the infected organism. C. gattii causes a more severe and difficult-to-treat infection, with few antifungals eliciting an effective response during chronic treatment. Much of the immunopathology of this cryptococcosis is still poorly understood, with most studies focusing on cryptococcosis caused by the species C. neoformans. C. gattii became more important in the epidemiological scenario with the outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, which resulted in phylogenetic studies of the virulent variant responsible for the severe infection in the region. Since then, the study of cryptococcosis caused by C. gattii has helped researchers understand the immunopathological aspects of different variants of this pathogen.
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A Velvet Transcription Factor Specifically Activates Mating through a Novel Mating-Responsive Protein in the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0265321. [PMID: 35471092 PMCID: PMC9241590 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02653-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction facilitates infection by the production of both a lineage advantage and infectious sexual spores in the ubiquitous human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans. However, the regulatory determinants specific for initiating mating remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a velvet family regulator, Cva1, that strongly promotes sexual reproduction in C. deneoformans. This regulation was determined to be specific, based on a comprehensive phenotypic analysis of cva1Δ under 26 distinct in vitro and in vivo growth conditions. We further revealed that Cva1 plays a critical role in the initiation of early mating events, including sexual cell-cell fusion, but is not important for the late sexual development stages or meiosis. Thus, Cva1 specifically contributes to mating activation. Importantly, a novel mating-responsive protein, Cfs1, serves as the key target of Cva1 during mating, since its absence nearly blocks cell-cell fusion in C. deneoformans and its sister species C. neoformans. Together, our findings provide insight into how C. deneoformans ensures the regulatory specificity of mating. IMPORTANCE The human fungal pathogen C. deneoformans is a model organism for studying fungal sexual reproduction, which is considered to be important to infection. However, the specific regulatory determinants for activation of sexual reproduction remain poorly understood. In this study, by combining transcriptomic and comprehensive phenotypic analysis, we identified a velvet family regulator Cva1 that specifically and critically elicits early mating events, including sexual cell-cell fusion. Significantly, Cva1 induces mating through the novel mating-responsive protein Cfs1, which is essential for cell-cell fusion in C. deneoformans and its sister species C. neoformans. Considering that Cva1 and Cfs1 are highly conserved in species belonging to Cryptococcaeceae, they may play conserved and specific roles in the initiation of sexual reproduction in this important fungal clade, which includes multiple human fungal pathogens.
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18
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Bionized Nanoferrite Particles Alter the Course of Experimental Cryptococcus neoformans Pneumonia. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0239921. [PMID: 35293784 PMCID: PMC9017294 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02399-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a devastating fungal disease associated with high morbidity and mortality even when treated with antifungal drugs. Bionized nanoferrite (BNF) nanoparticles are powerful immunomodulators, but their efficacy for infectious diseases has not been investigated. Administration of BNF nanoparticles to mice with experimental cryptococcal pneumonia altered the outcome of infection in a dose response manner as measured by CFU and survival. The protective effects were higher at lower doses, with reductions in IL-2, IL-4, and TNF-α, consistent with immune modulation whereby reductions in inflammation translate into reduced host damage, clearance of infection, and longer survival.
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Yang L, Tian Z, Zhou L, Zhu L, Sun C, Huang M, Peng J, Guo G. In vitro Antifungal Activity of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Against Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:233-248. [PMID: 35115792 PMCID: PMC8800587 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s344246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcus neoformans is a common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised people, as well as a prevalent cause of meningitis in HIV-infected individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance and the shortage of antifungal drugs, it is urgent to discover novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has antifungal activity against C. neoformans. However, its antifungal and anti-biofilm activities remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of AMP-17 against planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the biofilm inhibitory and eradicating concentration (BIC and BEC) were determined by the broth microdilution assay or the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay, respectively. The inhibitory and killing activities of AMP-17 against C. neoformans were investigated through the time-inhibition/killing kinetic curves. The potential antifungal mechanism of AMP-17 was detected by flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The efficiency of AMP-17 against biofilm formation or preformed biofilm was evaluated by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays. The morphology of pre-biofilms was tested by optical microscopy (OM) and CLSM. Results AMP-17 exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans planktonic cells and biofilms, with MICs of 4~16 μg/ml, BIC80 and BEC80 of 16~32 μg/ml, 64~128 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the 2× and 4× MIC of AMP-17 exhibited similar inhibition levels compared to the 2× and 4× MIC of the clinical drugs FLC and AMB in C. neoformans growth. Moreover, the time-kill results showed that AMP-17 (8× MIC) did not significantly eliminate colony forming units (CFU) after 6 h of treatment; however, there was 2.9-log reduction in CFU of C. neoformans. Furthermore, increasing of the permeability of the fungal cell membrane was observed with the treatment of AMP-17, since the vast change as fungal leakage and cell membrane disruption. However, the DNA binding assay of AMP-17 indicated that the peptide did not target DNA. Besides, AMP-17 was superior in inhibiting and eradicating biofilms of C. neoformans compared with FLC. Conclusion AMP-17 exhibited potential in vitro antifungal activity against the planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans, and it may disrupt fungal cell membranes through multi-target interactions, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy and experimental basis for Cryptococcus-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbing Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Luoxiong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoqin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingjiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Peng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guo Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Guo Guo, Building Wuben, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, College Town, Gui’an New District, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Tel/fax +86 851 882 59268, Email
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20
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Baker RP, Chrissian C, Stark RE, Casadevall A. Cryptococcus neoformans melanization incorporates multiple catecholamines to produce polytypic melanin. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101519. [PMID: 34942148 PMCID: PMC8760516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin is a major virulence factor in pathogenic fungi that enhances the ability of fungal cells to resist immune clearance. Cryptococcus neoformans is an important human pathogenic fungus that synthesizes melanin from exogenous tissue catecholamine precursors during infection, but the type of melanin made in cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is unknown. We analyzed the efficacy of various catecholamines found in brain tissue in supporting melanization using animal brain tissue and synthetic catecholamine mixtures reflecting brain tissue proportions. Solid-state NMR spectra of the melanin pigment produced from such mixtures yielded more melanin than expected if only the preferred constituent dopamine had been incorporated, suggesting uptake of additional catecholamines. Probing the biosynthesis of melanin using radiolabeled catecholamines revealed that C. neoformans melanization simultaneously incorporated more than one catecholamine, implying that the pigment was polytypic in nature. Nonetheless, melanin derived from individual or mixed catecholamines had comparable ability to protect C. neoformans against ultraviolet light and oxidants. Our results indicate that melanin produced during infection differs depending on the catecholamine composition of tissue and that melanin pigment synthesized in vivo is likely to accrue from the polymerization of a mixture of precursors. From a practical standpoint, our results strongly suggest that using dopamine as a polymerization precursor is capable of producing melanin pigment comparable to that produced during infection. On a more fundamental level, our findings uncover additional structural complexity for natural cryptococcal melanin by demonstrating that pigment produced during human infection is likely to be composed of polymerized moieties derived from chemically different precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna P Baker
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christine Chrissian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York and CUNY Institute for Macromolecular Assemblies, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ruth E Stark
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York and CUNY Institute for Macromolecular Assemblies, New York, New York, USA; Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA; Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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21
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Bryan AM, You JK, Li G, Kim J, Singh A, Morstein J, Trauner D, Pereira de Sá N, Normile TG, Farnoud AM, London E, Del Poeta M. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101411. [PMID: 34793834 PMCID: PMC8661020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in lymphopenic patients. Pulmonary macrophages comprise the first line of host defense upon inhalation of fungal spores by aiding in clearance but can also potentially serve as a niche for their dissemination. Given that macrophages play a key role in the outcome of a cryptococcal infection, it is crucial to understand factors that mediate phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Since lipid rafts (high-order plasma membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin [SM]) have been implicated in facilitating phagocytosis, we evaluated whether these ordered domains govern macrophages' ability to phagocytose C. neoformans. We found that cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in significantly deficient immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated phagocytosis of fungus. Moreover, repletion of macrophage cells with a raft-promoting sterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) rescued this phagocytic deficiency, whereas a raft-inhibiting sterol (coprostanol) significantly decreased IgG-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Using a photoswitchable SM (AzoSM), we observed that the raft-promoting conformation (trans-AzoSM) resulted in efficient phagocytosis, whereas the raft-inhibiting conformation (cis-AzoSM) significantly but reversibly blunted phagocytosis. We observed that the effect on phagocytosis may be facilitated by Fcγ receptor (FcγR) function, whereby IgG immune complexes crosslink to FcγRIII, resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of FcR γ-subunit (FcRγ), an important accessory protein in the FcγR signaling cascade. Correspondingly, cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in decreased FcRγ phosphorylation. Repletion with 7-dehydrocholesterol restored phosphorylation, whereas repletion with coprostanol showed FcRγ phosphorylation comparable to unstimulated cells. Together, these data suggest that lipid rafts are critical for facilitating FcγRIII-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle M Bryan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jeehyun Karen You
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Guangtao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - JiHyun Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Johannes Morstein
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nívea Pereira de Sá
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Tyler G Normile
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Amir M Farnoud
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erwin London
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA.
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22
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Hawkins AN, Determann BF, Nelson BN, Wozniak KL. Transcriptional Changes in Pulmonary Phagocyte Subsets Dictate the Outcome Following Interaction With The Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Immunol 2021; 12:722500. [PMID: 34650554 PMCID: PMC8505728 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.722500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With over 220,000 cases and 180,000 deaths annually, Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of fungal meningitis and a leading cause of death in HIV/AIDS patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. Either C. neoformans can be killed by innate airway phagocytes, or it can survive intracellularly. Pulmonary murine macrophage and dendritic cell (DC) subsets have been identified in the naïve lung, and we hypothesize that each subset has different interactions with C. neoformans. For these studies, we purified murine pulmonary macrophage and DC subsets from naïve mice - alveolar macrophages, Ly6c- and Ly6c+ monocyte-like macrophages, interstitial macrophages, CD11b+ and CD103+ DCs. With each subset, we examined cryptococcal association (binding/internalization), fungicidal activity, intracellular fungal morphology, cytokine secretion and transcriptional profiling in an ex vivo model using these pulmonary phagocyte subsets. Results showed that all subsets associate with C. neoformans, but only female Ly6c- monocyte-like macrophages significantly inhibited growth, while male CD11b+ DCs significantly enhanced fungal growth. In addition, cytokine analysis revealed that some subsets from female mice produced increased amounts of cytokines compared to their counterparts in male mice following exposure to C. neoformans. In addition, although cells were analyzed ex vivo without the influence of the lung microenviroment, we did not find evidence of phagocyte polarization following incubation with C. neoformans. Imaging flow cytometry showed differing ratios of cryptococcal morphologies, c-shaped or budding, depending on phagocyte subset. RNA sequencing analysis revealed the up- and down-regulation of many genes, from immunological pathways (including differential regulation of MHC class I in the antigen processing pathway and the cell adhesion pathway) and pathways relating to relating to metabolic activity (genes in the Cytochrome P450 family, genes related to actin binding, calcium voltage channels, serine proteases, and phospholipases). Future studies gaining a more in-depth understanding on the functionality of individual genes and pathways specific to permissive and non-permissive pulmonary phagocytes will allow identification of key targets when developing therapeutic strategies to prevent cryptococcal meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlee N Hawkins
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Brenden F Determann
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Benjamin N Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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23
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Hu P, Ding H, Shen L, He GJ, Liu H, Tian X, Tao C, Bai X, Liang J, Jin C, Xu X, Yang E, Wang L. A unique cell wall synthetic response evoked by glucosamine determines pathogenicity-associated fungal cellular differentiation. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009817. [PMID: 34624015 PMCID: PMC8500725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast-to-hypha transition is tightly associated with pathogenicity in many human pathogenic fungi, such as the model fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, which is responsible for approximately 180,000 deaths annually. In this pathogen, the yeast-to-hypha transition can be initiated by distinct stimuli: mating stimulation or glucosamine (GlcN), the monomer of cell wall chitosan. However, it remains poorly understood how the signal specificity for Cryptococcus morphological transition by disparate stimuli is ensured. Here, by integrating temporal expression signature analysis and phenome-based clustering evaluation, we demonstrate that GlcN specifically triggers a unique cellular response, which acts as a critical determinant underlying the activation of GlcN-induced filamentation (GIF). This cellular response is defined by an unusually hyperactive cell wall synthesis that is highly ATP-consuming. A novel cell surface protein Gis1 was identified as the indicator molecule for the GlcN-induced cell wall response. The Mpk1-directed cell wall pathway critically bridges global cell wall gene induction and intracellular ATP supply, ensuring the Gis1-dependent cell wall response and the stimulus specificity of GIF. We further reveal that the ability of Mpk1 to coordinate the cell wall response and GIF activation is conserved in different Cryptococcus pathogens. Phosphoproteomics-based profiling together with genetic and phenotypic analysis revealed that the Mpk1 kinase mediates the regulatory specificity of GIF through a coordinated downstream regulatory network centered on Skn7 and Crz1. Overall, our findings discover an unprecedented and conserved cell wall biosynthesis-dependent fungal differentiation commitment mechanism, which enables the signal specificity of pathogenicity-related dimorphism induced by GlcN in Cryptococcus pathogens. Many human fungal pathogens can undergo dimorphic transition between yeast and hyphal forms in response to different external stimuli, and this morphological transition is generally and critically linked with their infections. In Cryptococcus neoformans, a model pathogenic fungus, the yeast-to-hypha transition can be elicited by mating stimulation or glucosamine (GlcN), the monomer of cell wall chitosan. Here, we show that GlcN specifically evokes a unique hyperactive cell wall synthetic response, which determines GlcN-induced filamentation (GIF) as a key commitment event. The Mpk1-directed cell wall signaling pathway as a core and conserved cascade connects the cell wall synthetic response and GIF activation in different Cryptococcus pathogens. Overall, the findings reveal a previously unrecognized function of GlcN in stimulating cell wall signaling and biosynthetic machinery, which enables a unique dimorphism commitment mechanism underlying the signal specificity of the mating-independent yeast-to-hypha transition in Cryptococcus pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengjie Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guang-Jun He
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huimin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, China
| | - Xiuyun Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Changyu Tao
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangzheng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingnan Liang
- Public Technology Service Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinping Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Ence Yang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Linqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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24
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Huang XW, Xu MN, Zheng HX, Wang ML, Li L, Zeng K, Li DD. Pre-exposure to Candida glabrata protects Galleria mellonella against subsequent lethal fungal infections. Virulence 2021; 11:1674-1684. [PMID: 33200667 PMCID: PMC7714416 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1848107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Commensal fungi are an important part of human microbial community, among which Candida albicans and Candida glabrata are two common opportunistic pathogens. Unlike the high pathogenicity of C. albicans, C. glabrata is reported to show low pathogenicity to the host. Here, by using a Galleria mellonella infection model, we were able to confirm the much lower virulence of C. glabrata than C. albicans. Interestingly, pre-exposure to live C. glabrata (LCG) protects the larvae against subsequent various lethal fungal infections, including C. albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Inconsistently, heat-inactivated C. glabrata (HICG) pre-exposure can only protect against C. albicans or C. tropicalis re-infection, but not C. neoformans. Mechanistically, LCG or HICG pre-exposure enhanced the fungicidal activity of hemocytes against C. albicans or C. tropicalis. Meanwhile, LCG pre-exposure enhanced the humoral immunity by modulating the expression of fungal defending proteins in the cell-free hemolymph, which may contribute to the protection against C. neoformans. Together, this study suggests the important role of C. glabrata in enhancing host immunity, and demonstrates the great potential of G. mellonella model in studying the innate immune responses against infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wen Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Nian Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Huan-Xin Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng-Lei Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Kang Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China
| | - De-Dong Li
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Central Laboratory, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China
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25
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Warner EF, Bohálová N, Brázda V, Waller ZAE, Bidula S. Analysis of putative quadruplex-forming sequences in fungal genomes: novel antifungal targets? Microb Genom 2021; 7:000570. [PMID: 33956596 PMCID: PMC8209732 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause >1 million deaths annually and the emergence of antifungal resistance has prompted the exploration for novel antifungal targets. Quadruplexes are four-stranded nucleic acid secondary structures, which can regulate processes such as transcription, translation, replication and recombination. They are also found in genes linked to virulence in microbes, and ligands that bind to quadruplexes can eliminate drug-resistant pathogens. Using a computational approach, we quantified putative quadruplex-forming sequences (PQS) in 1359 genomes across the fungal kingdom and explored their presence in genes related to virulence, drug resistance and biological processes associated with pathogenicity in Aspergillus fumigatus. Here we present the largest analysis of PQS in fungi and identify significant heterogeneity of these sequences throughout phyla, genera and species. PQS were genetically conserved in Aspergillus spp. and frequently pathogenic species appeared to contain fewer PQS than their lesser/non-pathogenic counterparts. GO-term analysis identified that PQS-containing genes were involved in processes linked with virulence such as zinc ion binding, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and regulation of transcription in A. fumigatus. Although the genome frequency of PQS was lower in A. fumigatus, PQS could be found enriched in genes involved in virulence, and genes upregulated during germination and hypoxia. Moreover, PQS were found in genes involved in drug resistance. Quadruplexes could have important roles within fungal biology and virulence, but their roles require further elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily F. Warner
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Present address: Ikarovec Limited, Norwich Research Park Innovation Centre, Norwich, UK
| | - Natália Bohálová
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | | | - Stefan Bidula
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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26
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Ghosh C, Varela‐Aramburu S, Eldesouky HE, Salehi Hossainy S, Seleem MN, Aebischer T, Seeberger PH. Non‐Toxic Glycosylated Gold Nanoparticle‐Amphotericin B Conjugates Reduce Biofilms and Intracellular Burden of Fungi and Parasites. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chandradhish Ghosh
- Department of Biomolecular Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Am Mühlenberg 1 Potsdam 14476 Germany
| | - Silvia Varela‐Aramburu
- Department of Biomolecular Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Am Mühlenberg 1 Potsdam 14476 Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Takustraße 3 Berlin 14195 Germany
| | - Hassan E. Eldesouky
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology Purdue University 625 Harrison Street West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg VA 24060 USA
| | - Sharareh Salehi Hossainy
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Department of Infectious Diseases Robert Koch Institute Berlin 13353 Germany
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology Purdue University 625 Harrison Street West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg VA 24060 USA
| | - Toni Aebischer
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Department of Infectious Diseases Robert Koch Institute Berlin 13353 Germany
| | - Peter H. Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Am Mühlenberg 1 Potsdam 14476 Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Takustraße 3 Berlin 14195 Germany
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27
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Gálvez NMS, Bohmwald K, Pacheco GA, Andrade CA, Carreño LJ, Kalergis AM. Type I Natural Killer T Cells as Key Regulators of the Immune Response to Infectious Diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev 2021; 34:e00232-20. [PMID: 33361143 PMCID: PMC7950362 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00232-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system must work in an orchestrated way to achieve an optimal response upon detection of antigens. The cells comprising the immune response are traditionally divided into two major subsets, innate and adaptive, with particular characteristics for each type. Type I natural killer T (iNKT) cells are defined as innate-like T cells sharing features with both traditional adaptive and innate cells, such as the expression of an invariant T cell receptor (TCR) and several NK receptors. The invariant TCR in iNKT cells interacts with CD1d, a major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-like molecule. CD1d can bind and present antigens of lipid nature and induce the activation of iNKT cells, leading to the secretion of various cytokines, such as gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4). These cytokines will aid in the activation of other immune cells following stimulation of iNKT cells. Several molecules with the capacity to bind to CD1d have been discovered, including α-galactosylceramide. Likewise, several molecules have been synthesized that are capable of polarizing iNKT cells into different profiles, either pro- or anti-inflammatory. This versatility allows NKT cells to either aid or impair the clearance of pathogens or to even control or increase the symptoms associated with pathogenic infections. Such diverse contributions of NKT cells to infectious diseases are supported by several publications showing either a beneficial or detrimental role of these cells during diseases. In this article, we discuss current data relative to iNKT cells and their features, with an emphasis on their driving role in diseases produced by pathogenic agents in an organ-oriented fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás M S Gálvez
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karen Bohmwald
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gaspar A Pacheco
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catalina A Andrade
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Leandro J Carreño
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Programa de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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28
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Paccoud O, Bougnoux ME, Desnos-Ollivier M, Varet B, Lortholary O, Lanternier F. Cryptococcus gattii in Patients with Lymphoid Neoplasms: An Illustration of Evolutive Host-Fungus Interactions. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:212. [PMID: 33809570 PMCID: PMC8001097 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of Cryptococcus gattii (CG) infections in North America have sparked renewed interest in the pathogenic potential of CG, and have underscored notable differences with Cryptococcus neoformans in terms of geographic distribution, pathogen virulence, and host susceptibility. While cases of CG are increasingly reported in patients with a wide variety of underlying conditions, only very few have been reported in patients with lymphoid neoplasms. Herein, we report a case of autochthonous CG meningitis in a patient receiving ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in France, and review available data on the clinical epidemiology of CG infections in patients with lymphoid neoplasms. We also summarise recent data on the host responses to CG infection, as well as the potential management pitfalls associated with its treatment in the haematological setting. The clinical epidemiology, clinical presentation, and course of disease during infections caused by CG involve complex interactions between environmental exposure to CG, infecting genotype, pathogen virulence factors, host susceptibility, and host immune responses. Future treatment guidelines should address the challenges associated with the management of antifungal treatments in the onco-haematological setting and the potential drug-drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Paccoud
- University of Paris, Necker-Pasteur Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75015 Paris, France; (O.P.); (O.L.)
| | - Marie-Elisabeth Bougnoux
- University of Paris, Department of Mycology, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Marie Desnos-Ollivier
- Molecular Mycology Unit, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses & Antifungals (NRCMA), Pasteur Institute, UMR2000, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Bruno Varet
- University of Paris, Department of Hematology, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Olivier Lortholary
- University of Paris, Necker-Pasteur Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75015 Paris, France; (O.P.); (O.L.)
- Molecular Mycology Unit, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses & Antifungals (NRCMA), Pasteur Institute, UMR2000, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Fanny Lanternier
- University of Paris, Necker-Pasteur Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75015 Paris, France; (O.P.); (O.L.)
- Molecular Mycology Unit, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses & Antifungals (NRCMA), Pasteur Institute, UMR2000, 75015 Paris, France;
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da Silva TA, Hauser PJ, Bandey I, Laskowski T, Wang Q, Najjar AM, Kumaresan PR. Glucuronoxylomannan in the Cryptococcus species capsule as a target for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:119-130. [PMID: 33303326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS The genus Cryptococcus comprises two major fungal species that cause clinical infections in humans: Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans. To establish invasive human disease, inhaled cryptococci must penetrate the lung tissue and reproduce. Each year, about 1 million cases of Cryptococcus infection are reported worldwide, and the infection's mortality rate ranges from 20% to 70%. Many HIV+/AIDS patients are affected by Cryptococcus infections, with 220,000 cases of cryptococcal meningitis reported worldwide in this population every year (C. neoformans infection statistics, via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-neoformans/statistics.html). To escape from host immune cell attack, Cryptococcus covers itself in a sugar-based capsule composed primarily of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). To evade phagocytosis, yeast cells increase to a >45-µm perimeter and become titan, or giant, cells. Cryptococci virulence is directly proportional to the percentage of titan/giant cells present during Cryptococcus infection. To combat cryptococcosis, the authors propose the redirection of CD8+ T cells to target the GXM in the capsule via expression of a GXM-specific chimeric antigen receptor (GXMR-CAR). RESULTS GXMR-CAR has an anti-GXM single-chain variable fragment followed by an IgG4 stalk in the extracellular domain, a CD28 transmembrane domain and CD28 and CD3-ς signaling domains. After lentiviral transduction of human T cells with the GXMR-CAR construct, flow cytometry demonstrated that 82.4% of the cells expressed GXMR-CAR on their surface. To determine whether the GXMR-CAR+ T cells exhibited GXM-specific recognition, these cells were incubated with GXM for 24 h and examined with the use of brightfield microscopy. Large clusters of proliferating GXMR-CAR+ T cells were observed in GXM-treated cells, whereas no clusters were observed in control cells. Moreover, the interaction of GXM with GXMR-CAR+ T cells was detected via flow cytometry by using a GXM-specific antibody, and the recognition of GXM by GXMR-CAR T cells triggered the secretion of granzyme and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). The ability of GXMR-CAR T cells to bind to the yeast form of C. neoformans was detected by fluorescent microscopy, but no binding was detected in mock-transduced control T cells (NoDNA T cells). Moreover, lung tissue sections were stained with Gomori Methenamine Silver and evaluated by NanoZoomer (Hamamatsu), revealing a significantly lower number of titan cells, with perimeters ranging from 50 to 130 µm and giant cells >130 µm in the CAR T-cell treated group when compared with other groups. Therefore, the authors validated the study's hypothesis by the redirection of GXMR-CAR+ T cells to target GXM, which induces the secretion of cytotoxic granules and IFN-γ that will aid in the control of cryptococcosis CONCLUSIONS: Thus, these findings reveal that GXMR-CAR+ T cells can target C. neoformans. Future studies will be focused on determining the therapeutic efficacy of GXMR-CAR+ T cells in an animal model of cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Deparment of Pediatric Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paul J Hauser
- Deparment of Pediatric Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Irfan Bandey
- Deparment of Pediatric Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Tamara Laskowski
- Deparment of Pediatric Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amer M Najjar
- Deparment of Pediatric Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pappanaicken R Kumaresan
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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Danesi P, Falcaro C, Schmertmann LJ, de Miranda LHM, Krockenberger M, Malik R. Cryptococcus in Wildlife and Free-Living Mammals. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010029. [PMID: 33419125 PMCID: PMC7825559 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is typically a sporadic disease that affects a broad range of animal species globally. Disease is a consequence of infection with members of the Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii species complexes. Although cryptococcosis in many domestic animals has been relatively well-characterized, free-living wildlife animal species are often neglected in the literature outside of occasional case reports. This review summarizes the clinical presentation, pathological findings and potential underlying causes of cryptococcosis in various other animals, including terrestrial wildlife species and marine mammals. The evaluation of the available literature supports the hypothesis that anatomy (particularly of the respiratory tract), behavior and environmental exposures of animals play vital roles in the outcome of host–pathogen–environment interactions resulting in different clinical scenarios. Key examples range from koalas, which exhibit primarily C. gattii species complex disease presumably due to their behavior and environmental exposure to eucalypts, to cetaceans, which show predominantly pulmonary lesions due to their unique respiratory anatomy. Understanding the factors at play in each clinical scenario is a powerful investigative tool, as wildlife species may act as disease sentinels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Danesi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Christian Falcaro
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy;
| | - Laura J. Schmertmann
- Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (L.J.S.); (L.H.M.d.M.); (M.K.)
| | - Luisa Helena Monteiro de Miranda
- Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (L.J.S.); (L.H.M.d.M.); (M.K.)
| | - Mark Krockenberger
- Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (L.J.S.); (L.H.M.d.M.); (M.K.)
| | - Richard Malik
- Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
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Okafor EC, Hullsiek KH, Williams DA, Scriven JE, Rhein J, Nabeta HW, Musubire AK, Rajasingham R, Muzoora C, Schutz C, Meintjes G, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Correlation between Blood and CSF Compartment Cytokines and Chemokines in Subjects with Cryptococcal Meningitis. Mediators Inflamm 2020; 2020:8818044. [PMID: 33177951 PMCID: PMC7644322 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8818044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Though peripheral blood is a crucial sample to study immunology, it is unclear whether the immune environment in the peripheral vasculature correlates with that at the end-organ site of infection. Using cryptococcal meningitis as a model, we investigated the correlation between serum and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers over time. METHODS We analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of 160 subjects presenting with first episode cryptococcal meningitis for soluble cytokines and chemokines measured by Luminex assay. Specimens were collected at meningitis diagnosis, 1-week, and 2-week post cryptococcal diagnosis. We compared paired samples by Spearman's correlation and the p value was set at <0.01. RESULTS Of the 21 analytes tested at baseline, there was no correlation detected between nearly all analytes. A weak negative correlation was found between serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of interferon-gamma (Rho = -0.214; p = .007) and interleukin-4 (Rho = -0.232; p = .003). There was no correlation at 1-week post cryptococcal diagnosis. However, at 2-week post cryptococcal diagnosis, there was a weak positive correlation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels (Rho = 0.25; p = .007) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. No cytokine or chemokine showed consistent correlation overtime. CONCLUSION Based on our analysis of 21 biomarkers, serum and cerebrospinal fluid immune responses do not correlate. There appears to be a distinct immune environment in terms of soluble biomarkers in the vasculature versus end-organ site of infection. While this is a model of HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis, we postulate that assuming the blood compartment is representative of the immune function at the end-organ site of infection may not be appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Darlisha A. Williams
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 55455 Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418 Kampala, Uganda
| | - James E. Scriven
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, Observatory 7925 University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joshua Rhein
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 55455 Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Henry W. Nabeta
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Abdu K. Musubire
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Radha Rajasingham
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 55455 Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Conrad Muzoora
- Department of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410 Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Charlotte Schutz
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, Observatory 7925 University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Graeme Meintjes
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, Observatory 7925 University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David B. Meya
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 55455 Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418 Kampala, Uganda
| | - David R. Boulware
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 55455 Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Brilhante RSN, Araújo GDS, Fonseca XMQC, Guedes GMDM, Aguiar LD, Castelo-Branco DDSCM, Cordeiro RDA, Sidrim JJC, Pereira Neto WA, Rocha MFG. Antifungal effect of anthraquinones against Cryptococcus neoformans: detection of synergism with amphotericin B. Med Mycol 2020; 59:myaa081. [PMID: 32926150 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of tolerant Cryptococcus neoformans strains to antifungals has been described. It has directed researchers to screen for new antimicrobial compounds. In this context, several plant-derived compounds, such as anthraquinones (aloe emodin, barbaloin, and chrysophanol), have been investigated for their antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of aloe emodin, barbaloin and chrysophanol on C. neoformans in vitro growth. In addition, the interaction between these anthraquinones and amphotericin B and itraconazole was evaluated. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these compounds were determined against 17 strains of C. neoformans by the broth microdilution method and then pharmacological interaction assays were performed with 15 strains by the checkerboard method. Aloe emodin, barbaloin, and chrysophanol showed minimum inhibitory concentrations of 236.82-473.65 μM (64-128 μg/mL), 153-306 μM (64-128 μg/ml) and ≥1007 μM (≥256 μg/ml), respectively. Furthermore, aloe emodin (11/15), barbaloin (13/15), and chrysophanol (12/15) showed pharmacological synergism (FICI < 0.5) with amphotericin B at subinhibitory concentrations (MIC/4). The itraconazole-aloe emodin interaction was additive (1/15) (0.5 < FICI < 1.0). The itraconazole-barbaloin interaction were synergistic (2/15) and additive (5/15); whereas itraconazole-chrysophanol interactions were additive (2/15). Anthraquinones, especially aloe emodin and barbaloin, present in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans and potentiate the antifungal activity of amphotericin B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira Brilhante
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Géssica Dos Santos Araújo
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary, State University of Ceará. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Xhaulla Maria Quariguasi Cunha Fonseca
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Morgana de Melo Guedes
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Lara de Aguiar
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary, State University of Ceará. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Débora de Souza Collares Maia Castelo-Branco
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Rossana de Aguiar Cordeiro
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - José Júlio Costa Sidrim
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Waldemiro Aquino Pereira Neto
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Marcos Fábio Gadelha Rocha
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary, State University of Ceará. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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Bianchi F, van den Bogaart G. Vacuolar escape of foodborne bacterial pathogens. J Cell Sci 2020; 134:134/5/jcs247221. [PMID: 32873733 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.247221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The intracellular pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Shigella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus are major causes of foodborne illnesses. Following the ingestion of contaminated food or beverages, pathogens can invade epithelial cells, immune cells and other cell types. Pathogens survive and proliferate intracellularly via two main strategies. First, the pathogens can remain in membrane-bound vacuoles and tailor organellar trafficking to evade host-cell defenses and gain access to nutrients. Second, pathogens can rupture the vacuolar membrane and proliferate within the nutrient-rich cytosol of the host cell. Although this virulence strategy of vacuolar escape is well known for L. monocytogenes and Shigella spp., it has recently become clear that S. aureus and Salmonella spp. also gain access to the cytosol, and that this is important for their survival and growth. In this Review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of how these intracellular pathogens rupture the vacuolar membrane by secreting a combination of proteins that lyse the membranes or that remodel the lipids of the vacuolar membrane, such as phospholipases. In addition, we also propose that oxidation of the vacuolar membrane also contributes to cytosolic pathogen escape. Understanding these escape mechanisms could aid in the identification of new therapeutic approaches to combat foodborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frans Bianchi
- Department of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9722GR Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Geert van den Bogaart
- Department of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9722GR Groningen, The Netherlands .,Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 9625GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Song J, Liu X, Li R. Sphingolipids: Regulators of azole drug resistance and fungal pathogenicity. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:891-905. [PMID: 32767804 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the role of sphingolipids in pathogenic fungi, in terms of pathogenicity and resistance to azole drugs, has been a rapidly growing field. This review describes evidence about the roles of sphingolipids in azole resistance and fungal virulence. Sphingolipids can serve as signaling molecules that contribute to azole resistance through modulation of the expression of drug efflux pumps. They also contribute to azole resistance by participating in various microbial pathways such as the unfolded protein response (UPR), pH-responsive Rim pathway, and pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) pathway. In addition, sphingolipid signaling and eisosomes also coordinately regulate sphingolipid biosynthesis in response to azole-induced membrane stress. Sphingolipids are important for fungal virulence, playing roles during growth in hosts under stressful conditions, maintenance of cell wall integrity, biofilm formation, and production of various virulence factors. Finally, we discuss the possibility of exploiting fungal sphingolipids for the development of new therapeutic strategies to treat infections caused by pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxing Song
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, PR China
| | - Xiao Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, PR China
| | - Rongpeng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, PR China
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Sk Md OF, Hazra I, Datta A, Mondal S, Moitra S, Chaudhuri S, Das PK, Basu AK, Mishra R, Chaudhuri S. Regulation of key molecules of immunological synapse by T11TS immunotherapy abrogates Cryptococcus neoformans infection in rats. Mol Immunol 2020; 122:207-221. [PMID: 32388483 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans infects and disseminates in hosts with diminished T cell responses. The immunomodulator T11TS (T11 target structure) had profound potential in glioma as well as C. neoformans infected model for disease amelioration. It is been established by our group that T11TS potentiates Calcineurin-NFAT pathway in T cells of C. neoformans infected rats. We investigated the upstream Immunological Synapse (IS) molecules that are vital for the foundation of initial signals for downstream signaling, differentiation and proliferation in T cells. Improved RANTES level in the T11TS treated groups suggests potential recruitment of T cells. Down-regulation of TCRαβ, CD3ζ, CD2, CD45 and CD28 molecules by cryptococcus were boosted after T11TS therapy. Heightened expression of inhibitory molecule CTLA-4 in cryptococcosis was dampened by T11TS. The decline of MHC I, MHC II and CD80 expression on macrophages by C. neoformans were enhanced by T11TS. The dampening of positive regulators and upsurge of negative regulators of the IS during cryptococcosis was reversed with T11TS therapy resulting in enhanced clearance of fungus from the lungs as envisaged by our histological studies. This preclinical study with T11TS opens a new prospect for potential immunotherapeutic intervention against the devastating C. neoformans infection with positive aspect for the long-term solution and a safer immunotherapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Faruk Sk Md
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India; Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92 A.P.C. Road, Kolkata 700009, India
| | - Iman Hazra
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Ankur Datta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Somnath Mondal
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Saibal Moitra
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Suhnrita Chaudhuri
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, ECIM 6BQ, UK
| | - Prasanta Kumar Das
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Anjan Kumar Basu
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Roshnara Mishra
- Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92 A.P.C. Road, Kolkata 700009, India
| | - Swapna Chaudhuri
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India.
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Cryptococcal Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Patient with a Ventriculo-Pleural Shunt. Case Rep Infect Dis 2020; 2020:7601757. [PMID: 32351746 PMCID: PMC7178503 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7601757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common form of infection caused by Cryptococcus yeast species, followed by pulmonary infection. It is an opportunistic infection seen in patients with impaired cell immunity, most frequently in HIV patients and solid organ transplant recipients; however, it can occur in patients with no apparent immunodeficiency. We describe the case of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in an immunocompetent patient with aseptic cerebrospinal fluid analysis which highlights the heterogeneity of this disease.
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Coelho C, Farrer RA. Pathogen and host genetics underpinning cryptococcal disease. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2020; 105:1-66. [PMID: 32560785 DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a severe fungal disease causing 220,000 cases of cryptococcal meningitis yearly. The etiological agents of cryptococcosis are taxonomically grouped into at least two species complexes belonging to the genus Cryptococcus. All of these yeasts are environmentally ubiquitous fungi (often found in soil, leaves and decaying wood, tree hollows, and associated with bird feces especially pigeon guano). Infection in a range of animals including humans begins following inhalation of spores or aerosolized yeasts. Recent advances provide fundamental insights into the factors from both the pathogen and its hosts which influence pathogenesis and disease. The complex interactions leading to disease in mammalian hosts have also updated from the availability of better genomic tools and datasets. In this review, we discuss recent genetic research on Cryptococcus, covering the epidemiology, ecology, and evolution of Cryptococcus pathogenic species. We also discuss the insights into the host immune response obtained from the latest genetic modified host models as well as insights from monogenic disorders in humans. Finally we highlight outstanding questions that can be answered in the near future using bioinformatics and genomic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Coelho
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Rhys A Farrer
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
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Alemayehu T, Ayalew S, Buzayehu T, Daka D. Magnitude of Cryptococcosis among HIV patients in sub-Saharan Africa countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Afr Health Sci 2020; 20:114-121. [PMID: 33402899 PMCID: PMC7750036 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v20i1.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcus is encapsulated opportunistic yeast that causes life threatening meningoencephalitis of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The magnitude of Cryptococcosis among HIV patients varies from 1–10% in Western countries as opposed to almost a one third of HIV-infected individuals in sub-Saharan Africa where it is associated with high mortality. Methodology By using key terms “Cryptococcosis among HIV patients in sub-saharan Africa countries”, articles that published in different journals from 2010–2017 searched on Pub-Med and Google scholar database. Those freely accessible and included the prevalence of Cryptococcosis in the result section, their PDF file was downloaded and the result extracted manually and presented in table. Articles that did not report the prevalence of Cryptococcosis, with a study design otherthan cross sectional, or a sample size less than 100, and those duplicated in the same study area and period by the same authors were excluded. The article selection followed the PRISMA guidelines and meta- analysis was performed using OpenMeta(analyst). Results The overall pooled magnitude of Cryptococcosis among HIV patients in sub saharan African countries was 8.3% (95%CI 6.1–10.5%). The highest prevalence was from Uganda (19%) and the least was from Ethiopia at 1.6%. There was 87.2 % of substantial heterogeneity among the studies with p-value<0.001. The symmetry ofthe forest plot showed that there was little publication bias. The most commonly used method for diagnosis of Cryptococcosis was lateral flow assay and latex agglutination test and culture was the least method employed. Conclusion The overall pooled magnitude of Cryptococcosisis high among HIV patients in sub-Saharan African countries. The studies showed substantial heterogeneity, and little publication bias. Most of the studies relied on LFA & LA that showed the scarcity of facilities for fungal culture. Therefore, paying attention to screening HIV patients; those with signs and symptoms of meningitis may help to reduce the loss of HIV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsegaye Alemayehu
- School of Medical Laboratory Science Hawassa University College of medicine and health sciences
| | | | - Temesgen Buzayehu
- School of Medical Laboratory Science Hawassa University College of medicine and health sciences
| | - Deresse Daka
- School of Medical Laboratory Science Hawassa University College of medicine and health sciences
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Nelson BN, Hawkins AN, Wozniak KL. Pulmonary Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Responses to Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:37. [PMID: 32117810 PMCID: PMC7026008 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans can cause life-threatening infections in immune compromised individuals. This pathogen is typically acquired via inhalation, and enters the respiratory tract. Innate immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are the first host cells that encounter C. neoformans, and the interactions between Cryptococcus and innate immune cells play a critical role in the progression of disease. Cryptococcus possesses several virulence factors and evasion strategies to prevent its killing and destruction by pulmonary phagocytes, but these phagocytic cells can also contribute to anti-cryptococcal responses. This review will focus on the interactions between Cryptococcus and primary macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), dealing specifically with the cryptococcal/pulmonary cell interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin N Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Ashlee N Hawkins
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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Maliehe M, Ntoi MA, Lahiri S, Folorunso OS, Ogundeji AO, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM. Environmental Factors That Contribute to the Maintenance of Cryptococcus neoformans Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8020180. [PMID: 32012843 PMCID: PMC7074686 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8020180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of microorganisms to colonise and display an intracellular lifestyle within a host body increases their fitness to survive and avoid extinction. This host–pathogen association drives microbial evolution, as such organisms are under selective pressure and can become more pathogenic. Some of these microorganisms can quickly spread through the environment via transmission. The non-transmittable fungal pathogens, such as Cryptococcus, probably return into the environment upon decomposition of the infected host. This review analyses whether re-entry of the pathogen into the environment causes restoration of its non-pathogenic state or whether environmental factors and parameters assist them in maintaining pathogenesis. Cryptococcus (C.) neoformans is therefore used as a model organism to evaluate the impact of environmental stress factors that aid the survival and pathogenesis of C. neoformans intracellularly and extracellularly.
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Chen J, Chen P. Cryptococcal meningitis in patients with lupus nephritis. Clin Rheumatol 2019; 39:407-412. [PMID: 31838635 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-019-04844-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a rare condition in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). Here, we describe the clinical characteristics, possible risk factors, and outcomes of LN patients with CM. METHODS A systematic review of medical records from16 LN patients with CM admitted to our hospital was performed. A total of 32 cases were randomly selected as controls from LN patients without infection during the same period. RESULTS The mean age of patients with CM at presentation was 35.1 years, and the female-to-male ratio was 15:1.The most common clinical manifestation was headache (93.7%); patients with CM had a significantly higher prednisone dose at the time of hospitalization, a higher SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), a higher urine protein/creatinine ratio, and a lower CD4+ T cells count than those without infection (p < 0.05). Patients with CM also had significantly higher activity index and more moderate and severe mesangial proliferation than those without infections (p < 0.001 and p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION Serious renal pathological changes, mass proteinuria, higher SLEDAI, higher prednisone dose, and a decline in CD4+ T cells could be risk factors for CM in patients with LN. Key Points ⦁ LN patients with CM had more serious renal pathological changes than those without infections; serious renal pathological changes could be a major risk factor for CM in patients with LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiefang Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Seventh People's Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Peirong Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
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Coelho C, Drummond RA. Kupffer Cells Mediate Systemic Antifungal Immunity. Trends Immunol 2019; 40:1071-1073. [PMID: 31735512 PMCID: PMC7960509 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Patients with liver dysfunction have increased susceptibility to fungal infections. A recently published article (Sun et al.) describes the potential mechanism underlying this association, which maps to the antifungal activity of liver-resident Kupffer cells. This research highlights the importance of understanding tissue-specific immune responses in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Coelho
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - Rebecca A Drummond
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous environmental fungus and an opportunistic pathogen that causes fatal cryptococcal meningitis. Advances in genomics, genetics, and cellular and molecular biology of C. neoformans have dramatically improved our understanding of this important pathogen, rendering it a model organism to study eukaryotic biology and microbial pathogenesis. In light of recent progress, we describe in this review the life cycle of C. neoformans with a special emphasis on the regulation of the yeast-to-hypha transition and different modes of sexual reproduction, in addition to the impacts of the life cycle on cryptococcal populations and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youbao Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; , , ,
| | - Jianfeng Lin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; , , ,
| | - Yumeng Fan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; , , ,
| | - Xiaorong Lin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; , , ,
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Deigendesch N, Schlüter D, Siebert E, Stenzel W. [Infections of the central nervous system by protozoa, helminths and fungi]. DER NERVENARZT 2019; 90:623-641. [PMID: 31073673 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-019-0719-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of different parasites and fungi can lead to infections of the central nervous system (CNS) and cause different clinical symptoms and outcomes depending on the pathogen and the anatomic location of the infection. The diagnosis and treatment of these eukaryotic infections is challenging. The prevalence of CNS infections depends on many factors, including geographical location, living conditions, genetic background and the immune status of the individual. In Germany, infections of the CNS by fungi and parasites are rare but can lead to considerable morbidity. Some parasitic and fungal CNS infections are becoming increasingly more prevalent and clinically relevant due to the increasing number of immunocompromised people. Case fatality rates of these infections, which are difficult to diagnose and to treat, are high. This article provides an overview of a subjective selection of parasitic and fungal infections of the CNS relevant to clinical practice in Germany and presents the diagnostic and therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Deigendesch
- Institut für Medizinische Genetik und Pathologie, Universitätsspital Basel, Schönbeinstraße 40, 4031, Basel, Schweiz.
| | - Dirk Schlüter
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Deutschland
| | - Eberhard Siebert
- Institut für Neuroradiologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Werner Stenzel
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland
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Chang AL, Hole CR, Doering TL. An Automated Assay to Measure Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 53:e79. [PMID: 30802005 DOI: 10.1002/cpmc.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis, which kills 200,000 individuals worldwide each year. It is ubiquitous in the environment and is first inhaled into the lungs of the host, where it is taken up by phagocytes. The interaction of these fungal cells with host phagocytes, therefore, is a critical step in the pathogenesis of this disease. One characteristic of this initial step in host-pathogen interactions is the avidity with which fungal cells are taken up by phagocytes, described by the phagocytic index. In this chapter, we detail a high-throughput method of directly assessing the phagocytic index of fungal cells using an imaging-based paradigm. By automating image collection and processing, this method permits rapid assessment of this critical host interaction. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Shourian M, Qureshi ST. Resistance and Tolerance to Cryptococcal Infection: An Intricate Balance That Controls the Development of Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:66. [PMID: 30761136 PMCID: PMC6361814 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous environmental yeast and a leading cause of invasive fungal infection in humans. The most recent estimate of global disease burden includes over 200,000 cases of cryptococcal meningitis each year. Cryptococcus neoformans expresses several virulence factors that may have originally evolved to protect against environmental threats, and human infection may be an unintended consequence of these acquired defenses. Traditionally, C. neoformans has been viewed as a purely opportunistic pathogen that targets severely immune compromised hosts; however, during the past decade the spectrum of susceptible individuals has grown considerably. In addition, the closely related strain Cryptococcus gattii has recently emerged in North America and preferentially targets individuals with intact immunity. In parallel to the changing epidemiology of cryptococcosis, an increasing role for host immunity in the pathogenesis of severe disease has been elucidated. Initially, the HIV/AIDS epidemic revealed the capacity of C. neoformans to cause host damage in the absence of adaptive immunity. Subsequently, the development and clinical implementation of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) led to recognition of an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in a subset of HIV+ individuals, demonstrating the pathological role of host immunity in disease. A post-infectious inflammatory syndrome (PIIRS) characterized by abnormal T cell-macrophage activation has also been documented in HIV-negative individuals following antifungal therapy. These novel clinical conditions illustrate the highly complex host-pathogen relationship that underlies severe cryptococcal disease and the intricate balance between tolerance and resistance that is necessary for effective resolution. In this article, we will review current knowledge of the interactions between cryptococci and mammalian hosts that result in a tolerant phenotype. Future investigations in this area have potential for translation into improved therapies for affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Shourian
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Salman T Qureshi
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Calvete CL, Martho KF, Felizardo G, Paes A, Nunes JM, Ferreira CO, Vallim MA, Pascon RC. Amino acid permeases in Cryptococcus neoformans are required for high temperature growth and virulence; and are regulated by Ras signaling. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211393. [PMID: 30682168 PMCID: PMC6347259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an Invasive Fungal Infection (IFI) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, mainly in immunocompromised patients. Therapeutic failure due to pathogen drug resistance, treatment inconstancy and few antifungal options is a problem. The study of amino acid biosynthesis and uptake represents an opportunity to explore possible development of novel antifungals. C. neoformans has 10 amino acids permeases, two of them (Aap3 and Aap7) not expressed at the conditions tested, and five were studied previously (Aap2, Aap4, Aap5, Mup1 and Mup3). Our previous results showed that Aap4 and Aap5 are major permeases with overlapping functions. The aap4Δ/aap5Δ double mutant fails to grow in amino acids as sole nitrogen source and is avirulent in animal model. Here, we deleted the remaining amino acid permeases (AAP1, AAP6, AAP8) that showed gene expression modulation by nutritional condition and created a double mutant (aap1Δ/aap2Δ). We studied the virulence attributes of these mutants and explored the regulatory mechanism behind amino acid uptake in C. neoformans. The aap1Δ/aap2Δ strain had reduced growth at 37°C in L-amino acids, reduced capsule production and was hypovirulent in the Galleria mellonella animal model. Our data, along with previous studies, (i) complement the analysis for all 10 amino acid permeases mutants, (ii) corroborate the idea that these transporters behave as global permeases, (iii) are required during heat and nutritional stress, and (iv) are important for virulence. Our study also indicates a new possible link between Ras1 signaling and amino acids uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crislaine Lambiase Calvete
- Universidade de São Paulo, Biotechnology Graduate Program, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Kevin Felipe Martho
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabrielle Felizardo
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Paes
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - João Miguel Nunes
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Oliveira Ferreira
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A. Vallim
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Renata C. Pascon
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Department of Biological Sciences, Diadema, SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Brunet K, Alanio A, Lortholary O, Rammaert B. Reactivation of dormant/latent fungal infection. J Infect 2018; 77:463-468. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2018.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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50
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Wang D, Wu C, Gao J, Zhao S, Ma X, Wei B, Feng L, Wang Y, Xue X. Comparative study of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses by CT and pathology. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:4437-4444. [PMID: 30542394 PMCID: PMC6257807 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The manifestations of pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses on computed tomography (CT) are diverse and difficult to differentiate from those of lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis. The present study compared the multislice spiral CT signs with pathological results and used the pathological results to explain the CT signs with the aim of improving the accuracy of the diagnosis of this disease. A retrospective analysis of 20 patients with primary pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses was performed. Based on the CT signs, eight patients had been misdiagnosed with lung cancer accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis andthree patients had been misdiagnosed with tuberculosis. The major CT manifestations were a cluster of nodules or masses located within 2 cm below the pleura and distributed along the bronchi. A total of nine patients had primary lesions with diameters of 1.1–2.0 cm and 12 patients had satellite lesions with diameters of 0.1–1.0 cm. Regarding treatment, 5 patients underwent surgical monotherapy, 12 patients underwent antifungal monotherapy and three patients received surgery in combination with antifungal therapy. HE staining indicated that Cryptococcus neoformans was engulfed by macrophages, which were surrounded by massive infiltrating lymphocytes and a large amount of fibrous tissue, which formed multinucleated macrophages or granulomas. Periodic acid-Schiff staining was positive and acid fast staining was negative. In conclusion, comparison of CT signs with the pathological manifestation of pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses indicated that the pathological results may explain certain imaging signs. Combination of CT and pathological examination may provide a deeper understanding of this disease and improve the accuracy of its diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Wang
- Department of CT Diagnosis, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China
| | - Chongchong Wu
- Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Pathology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
| | - Shaohong Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
| | - Xidong Ma
- Department of Respiratory Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
| | - Limin Feng
- Department of CT Diagnosis, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China
| | - Yuguang Wang
- Department of CT Diagnosis, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China
| | - Xinying Xue
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
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